n. & v.
n. 1 a a juxtaposition or comparison showing striking differences. b a difference so revealed. 2 (often foll. by to) a thing or person having qualities noticeably different from another. 3 a the degree of difference between tones in a television picture or a photograph. b the change of apparent brightness or colour of an object caused by the juxtaposition of other objects.
v. (often foll. by with) 1 tr. distinguish or set together so as to reveal a contrast. 2 intr. have or show a contrast. contrastingly adv. contrastive adj.
[ F contraste, contraster, f. It. contrasto f. med.L contrastare (as CONTRA-, stare stand) ]